Technological Change and the Relative Share of Labor: The Case of Tobacco Production in the U.S

Tobacco production traditionally has been a highly labor-intensive operation in this country. Although the entire crop is grown on only .3 of 1 percent of the total cropland, tobacco requires more labor than is required for all vegetable crops and about the same amount as needed for cotton and food grains combined (USDA, Agricultural Statistics). However, in recent years a growing trend toward mechanization of harvesting-curing operations has, among other effects, greatly reduced labor usage. During the time period 1949–1976, total man-hours in tobacco production in the United States declined from 747 million to only 275 million—a reduction of more than 63 percent (USDA, Agricultural Statistics). Much of this reduction has been due to the introduction of bulk curing barns and mechanical harvesters (multipass and once-over types), which have replaced tying by hand or machines, conventional barns, and walking or riding primers. Mechanization of tobacco production has been relatively slow because of the special growing, harvesting, and curing requirements. However, the present state of mechanization is not insignificant.